Redirector and Server

The client redirector is what handles the presentation of
resources on the network. This module handles user account
security, resource availability, the actual
"connection" to a remote server's resource, and other
network operating system-specific functions. Essentially, once
two computers are able to communicate with each other, the
redirector provides the local operating system with the ability
to access the remote system.

For example, File Manager doesn't understand network concepts
explicitly, but instead relies on the redirector to handle
requests for it. If you connect to a remote server and list the
files in one of its directories, these requests are passed to the
Windows kernel which checks to see if the resource is local or
remote. If it is remote, it passes the request to the redirector,
which passes it to the remote system. That system processes the
request, and returns some sort of answer. The redirector then
passes the data back to the kernel for presentation to the
application that requested it.

Windows for Workgroups also provides a server component that
listens for requests from remote systems. If you have enabled
file sharing on your PC and another user connects to your system,
then his redirector is talking to your server. The server is, in
essence, the opposite of the redirector. However, the server also
relies on the redirector to provide the interface to the network
for it. When the server wishes to advertise a resource, it
publishes the information with the redirector, which then sends
the information out onto the wire.